PPP Poll: Obama Hurting Democrats in Michigan Races

The Republican candidates for governor and senator in Michigan have made strong gains in a new poll as Democrats continue to feel the backlash over the botched rollout of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform law.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is leading Democratic rival Mark Schauer by 44 percentage points to 40 percent in the race for the 2014 midterm elections, according to Public Policy Polling.

With six-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Carl Levin stepping down, Republican Terri Lynn Land leads Michigan Democratic Rep. Gary Peters by 42-40 percent, which is a seven-point turnaround from a PPP survey six months ago when Peters actually led Land by 41-36.

The news is even worse for Schauer, who was ahead of incumbent Snyder by eight points, 42-38, in June. Schauer also led by four points and five points in the two PPP studies before that.

"Democrats who looked a few months ago to be favorites for governor and Senate in Michigan are now on the ropes, casualties of the dip in favor of the Democrats around the country over the Affordable Care Act," says the poll.

Obama's popularity has plunged in recent weeks in a state which he won last year by 9.5 points. In June, a PPP survey revealed that he had a 48-47 approval rating while it now stands at 47-51. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that only 39 percent approved of his job performance.

"The key races are reflective of what we're seeing throughout the country right now. The political climate has turned sharply against Democrats over the last month and a half," Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, said.

The poll also showed that 45 percent of people found that the Affordable Care Act was "very unsuccessful" and another 18 percent said it was "somewhat unsuccessful."

The PPP survey of 1,034 voters, conducted by telephone from Dec. 5th-8th, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

The Republican candidates for governor and senator in Michigan have made strong gains in a new poll as Democrats continue to feel the backlash over the botched rollout of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform law.